Why Alcohol Misuse May Be the Forgotten Addiction

With all eyes on opioids, this massive unseen threat continues to claim lives.

In recent years, Americans have begun, justifiably, to recognize the complex public health problem of opioid misuse and associated overdose deaths as a national crisis. Unfortunately, as is often the case when a tidal wave of worry about a particular health issue engulfs the nation, other similar concerns are often swept out of public consciousness.

Take alcohol misuse, for instance. Although alcohol arguably presents a greater threat to public health than opioid misuse, it has in many ways been overlooked in the recent national conversation about substance use disorders.

Alcohol misuse occurs when a person drinks in a manner, situation, amount, or frequency that could cause harm to that individual or those around them. The data and statistics on alcohol misuse paint a clear picture of the continual threat alcohol poses, both in the United States and internationally.

In the U.S. alone, one in 10 deaths among working-age adults are due to alcohol misuse, and more than 88,000 people die from alcohol-related causes each year — making it the third leading preventable cause of death.

Alcohol use disorder encompasses a range of symptoms with varying severity, from mild disordered use to addiction. Despite its prevalence and impact, only a fraction of individuals with this disorder seek or receive professional help, and fewer still receive behavioral therapies or medications that have been demonstrated effective through rigorous scientific research. In part this is because patients and their families don’t know the range of treatment options available, and don’t know how to search for treatment providers who offer good-quality care.

Some might be scared away from seeking help, because they believe that it means having to “go away to rehab” or “quit drinking altogether, forever.” In fact, there is a broad menu of evidence-based treatment options accessible online and in person to facilitate different drinking goal choices and aid in decisions about quality of life, whether it is to reduce alcohol or stop completely. Some individuals will need life-saving, medically supervised “rehab-style" detoxification, stabilization, and to abstain completely. Others may be able to moderate their drinking at home, with the help of family and friends.

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The point is, finding out more about the variety of available options may surprise many people, and help them begin to consider and make healthier changes regarding their alcohol use.

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), the world’s largest funder of scientific research on the health effects of alcohol, as well as the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of alcohol misuse, recently released an Alcohol Treatment Navigator. Designed for family members seeking to find care for a loved one with alcohol use disorder, the Navigator spells out what they need to know, and what they need to do, to find good-quality treatment that meets their specific needs.

The tool highlights five signs of quality to recognize — such as what credentials to look for in a qualified treatment provider and what specific types of counseling they should offer — signs that are consistent with scientific research and expert consensus on what constitutes quality care.

While the tragedy of so many opioid overdose deaths continues to grab the headlines, it is easy to forget the many more millions of people and their family members impacted by alcohol use disorder. For these individuals, this disorder — especially in its most severe form, addiction — cannot be forgotten.

Now, more than ever, however, there is an array of evidence-based treatment and recovery support options available — at the click of a mouse, at the end of a phone, or through an office door.

Resolving an alcohol problem, whatever its impact, is very possible; in fact, very probable. Research has shown that most people suffering from an alcohol problem can and do recover. Also, just like many other disorders and diseases, the earlier someone begins to seek help, the shorter the time to remission. The important thing is to get started; do something positive, sooner rather than later.

Of course many people dismiss the prevalence of alcohol misuse disorders and the destructive nature of it. It has to do with the average person's perception on alcohol. Alcohol is glamorized in the U.S and most people do not perceive it as dangerous unless somebody gets behind the wheel. Due to the large number of people who drink alcohol daily, people do not consider the dangers that alcohol has on the people who abuse it. Because most Americans consume alcohol and most people do not become addicted, people do not consider it to be a problem for the millions suffering with alcohol misuse. PSA's and prevention efforts never really covered alcohol much with the exception that is was dangerous for people under 21. However, the perception became that when someone turned 21, there was no problem with it. It became normal and commonplace for people to drink after age 21. However, since most people on average have never used heroin, the perception is different. Additionally, almost all people who try heroin become addicted to it whereas with alcohol, most of the general public can drink moderately with the exception of the people who become dependent. If heroin was legal for recreational purposes like alcohol, the perception people have on heroin would be similar to the perception people have on alcohol today. Because alcohol is legal, widely consumed, and glamorized in media and culture, people generally do not perceive it to be a problem. Because heroin is illegal, not nearly as consumed as alcohol, and disgraced in the media and culture, of course people are going to be more concerned about heroin/opioid abuse than alcohol abuse. The general public is not educated on the dangers of alcohol and the possibility of alcohol misuse. The alcohol industry and the economy would take a dive if people were better educated on the reality of alcohol that resulted in them cutting down, so nothing will likely change. They also do not want people to become aware of the prevalence of alcohol misuse disorders among individuals in the U.S.

I have found to follow up with AA after in patient detoxification, Php, and I’ll, I have managed to stay sober for 101/2 years. No medication or medical intervention, I have no desire to drink , I know I’m just one drink away from death and O stay sober one day at a time. I am proof that it is a deadly disease, I could no longer get drunk nor could I not drink or I would get dt’s so I almost completed suicide was life flighted to the neatest large hospital and was on life support for 5 days. Alcohol is most certainly cunning, baffling and powerful!

It's called alcoholism you dipshit! Oooh, I see your from an eas coast prep school. Whippeee! Big deal! Our world is in trouble and getting stupider by the minute, lol! Alcohol"misuse" disorder? Only someone who isn't an "alcoholic who successfully TREATS the disease" and is only book learned about it would say/believe something so foolish! Wow, some groundbreaking work yer doing. Pick up a copy of the Big Book and on of "Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions" and go to an open AA meeting. Educate yourself. Hey Yalie/Harvard (I already forgot) man, ain't nuthin' in this world is rocket science, ya know? Good grief, Charlie Brown! ...namaste...

Alcoholism is curable without ever going to any meetings. I think AA is helpful, but if you do the research you will find that Bill Wilson wanted to be known more for niacin therapy, as related to the treatment of Alcholism, than for being the founder of AA and for good reason: IT WORKS.

Is it costly? Yes.....but so is knocking back two doubles and a bottle of wine every night.

I operate a NAD+ treatment center. We encourage group participation, offer individual counseling, etc. The biological reset caused by NAD+ is without question a cure for Alcoholism.

The reality is, while AA has its place, it also is protective of its rice bowl. Do you really think if there ever was a cure that they would endorse it? Bill Wilson suggested NAD+ to the AMA and they declined to instead use Vivitrol produced by Pharma.

We video all of our clients that have undergone our 10 day IV treatment. When you see juandice reversed in 48 hours and blood markers return to normal as associated with an alcoholic who was dismissed from a liver transplant list, it is more than convincing. All blood markers corrected in 15 days with the exception of AST, which corrected by day 30.

Apparently, many people in Western Civilzation grew up in families where having a drink is the norm. I grew up in families where I did not witness drinking, except on a holiday. My husband doesn't ever drink. If we have a bottle of wine, it's to give away, not for our consumption. Most of our friends drink little or not al all.

While alcohol is glamorized, I think there is a very slow shift towards drinking less and "healthy more."
I appreciate my parents teaching me that I do not need to abuse any substances. At least one area of my life is simpler because of this being taught to us.

Alcholism and other drugs=Substance Use Disorder. Not how much you drink what happens to you when you drink. Many modalities one size does not fit all . 45 years and counting Have lived a life beyond my wildest dreams. Generations in my family Many untreated Few in recovery Need to erase stigma keeps many from seeking treatment help. Educate early. Speak openly Agree Opioids have hidden Alcoholism for some time now back burner ! Please speak up out use your voice ! The life you save could be your own son daughter grandchild family member friend !